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by Symbiote 1347 days ago
> where you have an app and/or a contactless card

London gets this (mostly) right, because there "contactless card" includes Visa/MasterCard/Amex/Maestro credit and debit cards, and smartphones with equivalent contactless payment. The local transport card (Oyster) is only needed for other fares (e.g. child-rate tickets) or season tickets of a month or longer.

Travel from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton airports is included in this.

(The only thing they could improve is the signage at Heathrow. They promote the expensive Heathrow Express train, when many people would be better taking an Elizabeth Line train on the same rails — 15 minutes slower and ¼ the price.)

(One more thing, last month they seem to have introduced a £5-£7 cost to get an Oyster card, which seems needlessly extortionate for visitors that do need them. Years ago it was a small deposit, which you could get returned in cash at the machine.)

[1] https://tfl.gov.uk/fares/how-to-pay-and-where-to-buy-tickets...
4 comments
AshamedCaptain 1347 days ago
> London gets this (mostly) right, because there "contactless card" includes Visa/MasterCard/Amex/Maestro credit and debit cards

Lyon and many other French cities do this already anyway.

I dislike it because it's about the opposite of anonymous.

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ghaff 1347 days ago
I noticed last time I was in London there seemed to be more choices; I already have an Oyster Card anyway.

Systems do seem to be getting more standardized in general although the user experience for a first time visitor to a city--especially if they haven't checked things out ahead of time--isn't necessarily great because they can't really depend on just tapping a credit card on a reader.

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_visgean 1347 days ago
is stansted included? I always buy ticket through traveline and I dont think you can get through the train gates with card payment..

> Passengers are not able to use Oyster cards or contactless payment cards on the Stansted Express services to Stansted Airport. It is advised that passengers book tickets in advance or, alternatively purchase tickets at the train station. By booking in advance you are able to save money on their journeys.

https://www.stanstedairport.com/getting-to-and-from/by-stans...

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Symbiote 1347 days ago
You are correct. I read "The addition of Luton Airport Parkway to stations accepting pay as you go means that four of London’s airports are now accessible by simply using contactless." [1]. The other is London City Airport, not Stansted.

1] https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/pay-you-go-contactless-tak...

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ghaff 1347 days ago
>They promote the expensive Heathrow Express train

For that matter something like the Piccadilly Line is more convenient depending upon where you're going to.

I have an Oyster Card but there seem to be a lot of options these days.

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